Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

Social networking and texting habits of teenagers and tweens are a concern for parents and doctors these days.

Some kids are becoming more removed from interpersonal relationships, while others are encountering cyber social problems like sexting and online bullying.

Experts say it's what parents do that means the most.

Do you reach for your phone every time it rings, despite what you may be doing?  It's an issue many parents don't think about when kids are young. Just picking up your phone to check a message sets a dangerous precedent.

Quincy Medical Group Pediatrican Dr. Dennis Go said, "Set good examples, you should try to remember that children learn from what they're surrounded by. They learn by example, what you do rather than what you say."

Dr. Jeffry Evans with the Hannibal Clinic says parents have the greatest influence on what your children will be like when they get older. If you want them to be well-rounded...you have to be, too.

Dr. Evans said, "Parents need to model limits on media and model behavior they want their children to emulate like certain limited times to use Facebook and instant messaging and having times when you interact face-to-face and put away cell phones and having one-on-one time with kids without those medias."

Sadly, what you might think is an innocent flip of the phone is actually teaching kids about their role in your life.

What kind of message are we sending when we take that text in the middle of story time?

Dr. Evans said, "Kids pay far more attention to what we do rather than what we say. So if the parent is always on Facebook or on the cell phone and kids have to pull at the pant legs for attention for things that they need, they learn that is the thing to do as well and they'll start those behaviors you've been modeling for them."

So change your behaviors and set limits. Turn off the phone or computer during meals or family time or allow it to ring. That may send the biggest message of all to your little ones.

As always, you can find many more tips and links on the Parenting Tips segment of our website.

Parental modeling is important in training kids to use digital media in moderation.